It was a blessing in disguise. It was a life turnaround.
He failed to re-sign in Korea's KBO League, but after returning to the United States and signing a minor league contract, strong performances in spring camp exhibition games earned him a major league contract. He won the World Baseball Classic (WBC), and now he has been included on the 26-man roster for the major league opening day.
Emmanuel De Jesus (Detroit Tigers) is the person in question. Detroit outlet 'Detroit Free Press' reported on the 25th (Korean time) that De Jesus had been included on the opening roster.
The outlet reported, "Detroit's bullpen is not yet clear, but according to people familiar with the club's situation, left-handed reliever De Jesus was included on the opening-day roster as one of eight bullpen members." In 2023, De Jesus pitched two games (6 1/3 innings) for the Miami Marlins, and he is returning to the big leagues after three years.
De Jesus had a dramatic offseason timeline. He signed with the Kiwoom Heroes in 2024 and came to the KBO League, and in 2025 he played for the KT Wiz. Last year with KT he appeared in 32 games (163 2/3 innings) with a 9-9 record, a 3.96 earned run average and 165 strikeouts. Compared with 2024 with Kiwoom when he had 30 games (171 1/3 innings), a 13-11 record, a 3.68 earned run average and 178 strikeouts, it was a decline.
KT did not re-sign De Jesus and released his retention rights. As a left-handed pitcher who had won 22 games over two years, there was no interest from other clubs in signing De Jesus.
After returning to the United States, De Jesus signed a minor league contract with Detroit and participated in spring camp as an invited player. On Feb. 25, he started the first exhibition game against Atlanta, throwing 3 1/3 innings, allowing two hits, one walk and three runs (unearned). The runs were unearned due to a defensive error. On March 2 against Toronto he delivered a perfect outing of three innings, two hits allowed, seven strikeouts, no walks and no runs.
After that, De Jesus played for the Venezuela WBC team. He also performed well in the WBC. He started against Israel in the WBC group stage and pitched five innings, allowing two hits, striking out eight, issuing no walks and allowing one run, earning the win.
Then in the WBC quarterfinals against Japan he appeared in relief and threw 2 1/3 innings, allowing one hit, one walk and recording three strikeouts with no runs, helping set the stage for a comeback win and earning the win. Notably, in the fourth inning with one out and runners on first and second, he struck out Shohei Ohtani swinging. It was Ohtani's first strikeout of the tournament.
Venezuela rallied to beat Japan 8-5, then beat Italy in the semifinals and the United States in the final to capture the country's first tournament title. De Jesus finished the WBC with two appearances (7 1/3 innings), two wins, a 1.23 earned run average and 11 strikeouts, lifting the championship trophy.
During the WBC tournament, Detroit signed De Jesus to a major league contract and added him to the 40-man roster. Had he not returned to the big leagues, De Jesus had planned to return to Asia, including Korea, so this marked a major reversal in his baseball career.
After winning the WBC and returning to Detroit, De Jesus continued to pitch scoreless innings in exhibition play. On the 21st in the game against Philadelphia he threw two innings, allowing one hit and recording three strikeouts with no runs, and on the 24th in the game against Colorado he entered in the eighth inning with one out and runners on first and second and ended the inning with a pitcher's groundout double play.
De Jesus appeared in four exhibition games (one start) and posted a 0.00 earned run average. He threw nine innings, allowing five hits, three runs (unearned), 10 strikeouts and one walk. His batting average against was .161 and his WHIP was only 0.67. Proven by performance, De Jesus was included on the opening-day 26-man roster and is ready to take the big league mound for the first time in three years.
By being included on the major league roster, De Jesus will receive $1.3 million. While playing in the KBO League he received $800,000 from Kiwoom and $1 million from KT; he will now gain both bigger money and the honor of being a major leaguer.
Meanwhile, Detroit will open the season on the 27th against the San Diego Padres. Two-time consecutive Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal is scheduled to start.
[OSEN]